Brooder



M. O. ADAMS BRGODER Filed Nov. :5, 195s. 2 sheets-sheet 1 l INVENTOR. mm@ @4m 0d. 29,.-1940. M, Q ADAMS v 2,219,882

BRooDER Filed Nov. 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR www@ Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RooDER Milton O. Adams, Hiawatha, Kans. n Q Application November 8, 1988, serialNd. 288,598

Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in broeders of the type wherein' the heating element is with or without other parts suspended from the ceiling of the brooding chamber or,

c where an essential part or `parts of the structure are mounted to bear on the ceiling and the principal objects of my invention are, to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of the existing forms of broeders now in general use and, to provide a broeder that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and particularly effective in use.

Further objects of my invention are, to prov vide strong and substantial supporting means for the ceiling of the broeder, together with the parts that are suspended therefrom or supported thereby, further, te provide simple and efficient means for eifectually insulating the broeder against reduction of heat at all times and against the immediate total loss of heat in the event of failure of the heat source to function and further, to provide simple and convenient adjustable means for insuring adequate ventilation of the broeder, which Ventilating means is readily accessible to an attendant.

`Further objects of my Yinvention are, to provide a broeder composed of Vparts that may be readily manufactured and lassembled so as to produce a completed structure that is compact, strong, anddurable, and further, to provide sim ple and convenient means for adjustably mounting the electric fan that is utilized for circulation of air through the broeder.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the. accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a vertical section taken approximatly through the center of thebrooder.

Fig. 2 isa perspective View of the housing into which air is driven by an electric fan to produce circulation through the broeder and showing the gravity actuated means for automatically cutting 01T the reverse owor escape of air in the event that the air circulating fan fails to function.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail partly in section and showing the lower portion of the air circulation stack and the tube that receives the fan mount- Fig. 4 is a top plan viewof thebrooder with parts broken away in order -to shOW certain, of the internally arranged parts., f

Fig. 5 ,isa perspective viewof the door that is formed in the top of the' broeder -to `give access to certain parts on the interior thereof.

Referring by numerals tothe accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodii? ment of my invention, VIIJ designatesrails preferably formed .of wood and which lare united at their ends to form a substantially rectangular frame and this frame is supported by -sh'ort` legs II, the latter being preferably located Aat l the corners of the frame. Secured to the inner faces of the rails I0 adjacent their upper ends, are small rails I2 that function as ledges to sup'- port a panel I3 that functions as the ceiling of the chick chamber.

This chamber., it will be understood, is that area beneath the ceiling panel I3 Within the area bounded by the frame composed of the rails I!) and, the walls of this chamber are formed bythe conventionalhover curtain (not shown).

The canopy or top of the broeder conforms to v the shape of thev frame composed `of the rails It and said canopy is composed of four substantially triangular sections I4, preferably formed 'from sheet metal and occupying inclined positions so as to produce a top` or canopy that is substantially shaped somewhat similar to a low pyramid.

The meeting edges of the canopy lsections I l are formed with upstandin-g flanges that are overlaid by inverted U-shaped stripsV I 5, preferably of metal, and passing through said strips and the upturned edges of the canopy members I4 are bolts, screws, or like fastening` devices, I6.

The connected edges of the canopy sections l I4 constitute radially disposed reinforcing means `35 that addsmaterially to the stiffness and rigidity of the entire canopy.

The lower outer edges of the canopy members I4 are extended rdownward so as .to overlie the upper outer edges of the rails I0 and these depending edges are secured to the rails It, preferably vby means of screws l1.

Suitably secured to the under side of the ceiling I3 and extending radially from the center thereof arey arms I8, preferably metal channels, and which arms are for the purpose of adding strength and rigidityto the ceiling for defining and directing air currents withinthe brooding chamber beneath the ceiling and to provide a strong, rigid mounting for the porcelain insulators I9 that support the electric heating elements.

These arms varyvin length with the longest entering the corner areas of the brooding cham .ber beneath the ceiling, thus reducing and counteracting adverse air currents that might otherwise develop in the corners of the brooding chamber and said longer arms carry the heating elements to the remote areas of the brooding chamber, namely, the corners thereof. Further, these longer arms also support the longer lines of deflection in the rectangular ceiling.

The heating elements used in my improved brooder are preferably o-f the conventional type which include coils of wire that become heated on the passage of an electric current therethrough and these coils are illustrated in Fig. 4.

The longer radial arms that project into the corners are rigidly joined at a point beneath the center of the coiling and, as illustrated in Fig. 3 the top flanges of the longer arms are unitedl at their inner ends by a metal plate 28 to produce strength and rigidity. Y t

Suitably secured to the lower flanges on .the inner end portions of the arms I8, is a shallow pan 2| preferably constructed of sheet metal, the corners of which are notched to admit the lower portions of the arms I8.

This pan functions as a deflector to cause the air that discharges from the lower end of va stack that projects upwardly from the center of the ceiling, to flow radially outward in a horizontal plane as it enters the chick chamber beneath the ceiling.

Disposed beneath and secured to the under side of ceiling I3 and arranged between the varms I8, are shorter radially disposed arms 22, preferably metal channels, the inner ends of which are suitably connected to the upturned edgesof the pan. These intermediate relatively short arms 22 serve to further reinforce and strengthen the ceiling and their outer portionsv provide points for attachment for porcelain insulators I9 that carry the electric heating elements.

Formed in the center of the ceiling I3 and surrounding the plate 20 that connects the inner ends of arms I8 is an opening 24 and, suitably secured to the `top of the ceiling immediatelyadjacent the edges of this opening are the outwardly ilanged lower ends of the walls of a vertically disposed air stack 25, preferably formed of sheet metal.

An opening 2B is formed in the apex of the canopy, which opening receives the upper end of the air stack 25 and the metal forming the sections I4 of the canopy ls flanged upwardly inwardly and thence downwardly over the upper edges of the walls ofthe air stack and these inter-engaged parts are connected by bolts, screws, or the like, 21.

The construction just described provides a firm and-substantial connection between the upper end of the air stack 25 and the central portion of the canopy and the latter is held rigidly in proper position and the weight of the air stack will be carried by the arched structure of the canopy and transmitted therethrough directly to the rails I forming the frame, the legs II that support said frame, to the surface on which the legs rest.

A cap 28, preferably formed of sheet metal, is removably positioned on the apex of the canopy so as to close the upper end of stack 25 and formed through the walls of this cap are air inlet openings 29.

Formed through the walls of the stack 25 just beneath the apex of the canopy, are openings 38 that permit air to pass from the upper portion of the stack into the upper portion of the chamber within the canopy and xed within the airl stack immediately below these openings 38 is Ia horizontally disposed partition 3|.

The bolts 32 that pass through the outwardly flanged lower ends of the walls of air stack 25 are disposed at the corners of said stack and these bolts pass through the inner end portions of the longer radial arms I8 and also through the bottom of the pan 2|, thus transmitting the weight of the suspended load to the stack and from the latter to and through the canopy and from the latter to the frame members IIJ and legs II. Part of this suspended load is carried through the ceiling to the frame and legs, but without the connection between the stack and the apex of the canopy, the central portion of the ceiling would sag and thereby result in a disarrangement of the supported parts of the brooder.

Extending through the lower portion of the air stack is an inclined tube 33, preferably formed of sheet metal, which receives and holds an arm 34 preferably of wood and `which functions as a support for the air circulating fan and its driving motor. This tube is substantially oval in cross section with a at portion, preferably at the top, so as to prevent rotation of the supporting arm 34 when the same is positioned in the tube and the section of metal utilized in forming the tube has longitudinally disposed over-lapping parts 35 thatare not connected to each other except at the ends of the tube. This tube 33 is secured to the'walls of the air stack 25 by welding or otherwise.` Inasmuch as the central portions of the over-lapping parts 35 of the tube are not connected to each other, the central portion of said tube may be compressed slightly by the use of a suitable tool or tools and thus the inserted arm 34 will be retained without rotating in said tube by friction, keeping motor in alignment.

Mounted for limited tilting movement on a pin or bolt 33 that passes through the outer upper end of the arm 34, is a yoke 31 in which is mounted for operation a small electric motor 38 and, carried by the end of the shaft of this motor is a conventional fan 39. Bolts 40 are seated in the outer upper portion of arm 34 on opposite sides of the pin or bolt 35 and provide convenient means for tilting the motor and its mounting on the end of arm 34 so as to correctly position fan 39 with respect to the opening through which the fan draws air from the air stack 25 into the chamber beneath the canopy.

To slightly lower. the fan, the bolt 40 to the rear of pin 36 is lowered and the bolt in front of said pin isv correspondingly moved upward and a reversal of these operations will result in a tilting of the yoke 3'i so as to slightly elevate the fan.

The motor 38 mounted on arm 34, held in tube 33 by gravity, is readily removable through opening and maybequickly and conveniently removed from the inclined tube 33 for the purpose of being oiled, cleaned, or otherwise serviced.

The fan 39 in operation draws air from the chamber beneath the canopy and forces same into the stack 25 through means about to be described and, due to the provision of the partition 3| in the stack, this air necessarily travels downwardly through theY stack, thence through opening 24 around plate 20 into the chick chamber beneath the ceiling I3 and thence out through the slits in the lower portion of the conventional hover curtain.

If for any reason the fan 39 ceases `to operate, the air would cease to ow downwardly'into the chickl chamber and as a resultv of natural laws governing the principles of thermosyphon, a reverse current of heated air would immediately establish itself from the chickichamber upwardly to the stack, thus dissipating the heat in the chick chamber and causing undue'and dangerous drafts of c'old air upon the chicks.

To eliminate the possibility of the development of the conditions just described, Lagrange i-n the wall of` the stack directly opposite the motor and its fan an opening and a removable trap for automatically preventing the escape of warm air from the chickr chamber upwardly through the stack inthe event that the fan failsto function.

This opening designated by the numeral 40a receives a substantially' rectangular removable frame 4|, preferably formed of sheet metal and having inclined walls so that the opening through said frame gradually decreases in size toward its inner end and the wall at the top of this frame is extended rearwardly and downwardly as designated by 42. From the sides of this extension 42, depend side walls 43, the forward edges of which are suitably secured to the inner edges of the side walls of frame 4I.

This frame is designed to direct the flow of air from fan 39 inwardly and downwardlywithin the lower portionof stack 25. i

Mounted to swing freely between the` side walls 43 immediately vto the rear of frame 4I, is a plate 44 preferably of sheet metal that functions as a valve to control the iiow of air through the frame and projecting from the upper corners of this valve plate through the upper portions of the side walls v43 are pintles 45 that provide an axis for the swinging movement of the valve.

Under normal conditions or while the fan 39 is not in operation, the valve plate 44, by gravity, occupies a substantially vertical position directly against the inner edges of the walls of frame 4I, thus effectually preventing upward flow of air through stack 25 and out through the opening in the frame 4I.

To regulate the position of the valve 44 and thereby control the volume of airfdriven by the fan into the stack and which air passes downwardly into the chick chamber, the upper portion of valve 44 is provided with an upwardly projecting iinger 46 that extends through a slot 41 that is formed in the top plate of frame 4I.

Passing through a thread-ed yaperture in a flange 48 that projects upwardly from the top of frame 4I, is a screw 49, the rear end of which provides a stop againstv whichnger 46 may engage and the outer end of this-screw is bent at right angles as designated by 50 in ord-er to provide a weighted arm which prevents the screw from rotating and altering the adjustment of the valve after the screw has once been set.

As a result ofthe arrangement just described, the opening Vmovement of plate 44may be accurately regulated so as to control the volume of air that is forced 4bythe fan downwardly into the chick chamber, such regulation being in accordance with weather conditions or chick age requirements.

While the fan 39 is in operation, air is forced through frame 4I against the valve 44 which is moved to its limit of open position by the force of the blast of air`from the fan, such position being controlled by the stop screw 49 and thus the air that is drawn from the chamber beneath the canopy is delivered downwardly through the Y In order to give ready access to the electric motor, its mounting, the fan and the stop screw 49, an opening 5I of suitable size is formed-in the section of the canopy above the motor and its mounting and secured to the outer face of the canopy to the sides of said opening are channelled cleats 52 preferably of sheet metal, that receive the upturned side edges of a sliding plate 53, the latter serving as a closure for opening 5| (see Fig. 5). squeezing of the channelled portions of the cleats 52 together generates suicient friction on the upturned side edges of the closure so as lto cause the same to remain in either open, closed, or intermediate positions with respect to the opening 5l.

Formed in the ceiling I3, preferably below the opening 5| in the canopy, is an opening 54 that is normally closed by a removable panel 55 provided with a centrally arranged aperture 56, through which the finger may be readily inserted to remove said panel whenever it is desired to inspect the chicks in the chamber beneath the ceiling and, removably seated in the opening 52 is a rod 5'|, the upper end of which is shaped to form a knob 58 and the lower portion of said rod carries a thermometer 59 which may be observed from time to time to ascertain the temperature that prevails in the chick chamber.

A conventional thermostat 60 is suspended from the under side of the pan 2| for controlling the degree of heat developed by the electric elements supported by the insulators I9,

Suitably located on top of the ceiling I3 is a socket 6I that receives a plug 62, the latter being carried by the end of an extension cord (not shown) and' the latter being connected to the electric motor. The socket 6I is electrically connected to a suitable source of electric currentV supply and the provision of the extension4 cord and motor being mounted on removable arm 34 enables the motor to be readily removed through opening 5| forv servicing without disconnecting plug 62 from its socket.

Located on the under side of ceiling I3 is a socket 63 that receives an electric lamp 64, the latter serving to illuminate the chick chamber.

vResting on the ceiling I3 and securely held in place by the lower portions of the canopy segments, is an insulation cell that includes a lower frame 65 and an upper frame 66 and interposed between said frames is a layer or panel 61 of suitabler insulating material, for instance, fiber boardor the like.

- Secured on top of the Lipper frame 66 is. a layer or panel 68 of insulating material, the dimen- V sions ofwhich are slightly larger than the dimensions of the frame 66, thus providing extensions 69 on vall four sides of the frame.

The space between the insulating panels 6.1 and` 68 is packed with suitable insulating material 10.

Projecting from the sides of the frames 65 and 66 into the corners between the edges of the ceiling I3 and the lower edges of the canopy, are substantially triangular bodies II of insulating material that are enclosed by horizontally disposed V-shaped housings 12, preferably of sheet metal, and the extensions 69 on the edges of the insulation y|38 extend downwardly between the insulation members II and the lower portions of the segments I4 of the canopy, thus providing insulation between said canopy and the `housings 12 that are `packed with insulating material.

By, providing the lower frame 85, the insulating cell comprising insulating panels 61 and 68 and. the body of insulating material 'I0 is maintained a short distance above the top of ceiling I3, thus providing a dead airspace 'I3 that is of especial advantage for insulating purposes.

The entire insulating cell or structure just described and comprising the frames 65 and 66 and parts associated therewith, is of such horizontal and Vertical dimensions that its outer portions and particularly the parts II and 'I2 fit snugly between the outer portions of the ceiling and the lower portions of the segments of the canopy and thus the cell can not shift during the handling of the brooder.

The overall dimensions of the insulation unit that is positioned on the ceiling I3 are such as to permit said unit to be positioned within the frame I when the structure is packed for storage or transportation and, when the insulation cell is positioned for use within the brooder a substantial portion of its weight is transmitted direct to the brooder frame comprising the rails Iil.

Formed in the central portion of the insulation unit, is an opening for the accommodation of the lower portion of stack 25, the closure 55 and the sockets 6I and 63 and surrounding this opening is a wall I preferably of sheet metal and the upper edge of said wall is flanged over the adjacent edge of the insulation cell coveringvmember 58 as designated by 1B. This wall "i5 in addition to defining the opening occupied by the lower portion of the stack 25 and the closure 55, holds the insulating packing 'Ill in the cell and makes the same a self-contained sealed `unit which co-operates with the other parts of the structure in producing a very eifective brooder.

Thus it will be seen that `I have provided a brooder that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture7 0f strong and durable construction, and very eiective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It'will be understood that minor vchanges in the size, form and construction of the Vvarious parts of my improved brooder, may be made and substituted for those herein shownand described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the 'appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a brooder, a frame, supports for said frame, a panel supported inthe upper portion of said frame and functioning as a ceiling for the brooding chamber, a' substantially pyramidal canopy supported by said frame above and spaced apart from said ceiling panel, there being an opening in the ceiling panel, an air stack extending through the central portion of the canopy and extending downwardly through the chamber between said canopy and ceiling, the lower end of which stack surrounds the opening in said ceiling, there being air inlet openings Vin the upper portion of said air stack and means for inducing and maintaining a draft of air into the upper portion of said stack, from thence into the chamber between the ceiling and canopy and thence downwardly through said stack and the opening in said ceiling.

2. A brooder as set forth in claim 1 and with a gravity valve for controlling 'the flow of air from the chamber. between `the Yceiling andfcanopy into the lower portion of lsaid air stack.

In a brooder, a frame, supports for said frame, a panel-supported in the upper portion of said frame and functioning as a ceiling for the brooding chamber, a substantially pyramidal canopysupported .by said frame above and spaced apart from said ceiling panel, there being an opening in the ceiling panel, an air stack extending through the central vportion of the canopy and extending downwardly through the chamber between said4 canopy and ceiling, the lower end of which stack surrounds the opening in said ceiling, there beingvair inlet openings in the upper portion of said air stack, means for inducing and maintaininga draft of air into the upper portion of said stack, from thence into the chamber between the ceiling and canopy and thence downwardly through said .stack and the open- 'ingin said ceiling, there -being an opening formed in `jsaid air stack, which opening communicates with the vchamber between the ceiling and canopy, a removable electric motor adjustably mounted in front of said opening and a fan carriedby the -shaft of said motor.

. 4,. A brooder as set forth in claim 3 and with a gravity actuated valve mounted for operation within the air-shaft behind said fan for automatically closing theopening in said air shaft in the event `of failureof Ythe .fan to function.

5; In a brooder, a Aframe, supports for said vframe, a panel supported in the upper portion of said frameand Yfunctioning as a ceiling for the broodingv chamber, `a substantially pyramidal .canopy supported by said frame above and spaced apart from .said ceiling panel, there being an opening in the` ceiling panel, an air stack extendingthrough the central vportion of the canopy and extending downwardly through the chamber between said canopy .and ceiling, `the lower end of which stack surrounds r4the opening in said ceiling, there beingair inlet openings in the upper portionof said air stack, means for inducing and maintaining a ,draft of air into the upper portion of said stack,from thence into the chamber between the ceiling and ,canopy and -thence downwardly through said `stack and the opening in said ceiling;` there being an air inlet opening formed vin said air stack and communicatingwith the chamber between the ceiling and canopy, an open-ended housing removably positioned in the opening into the air stack, a removable and adjustably mounted electrically operated fan unit for driving air from the chamber beneath the canopy through the housing that extends into said air stack and a gravity actuated valve for closing the passage way through said housing in the event of failure of the fan to function.

6l In a brooder, a frame, supports for said frame, a panel supported in the upper portion of said frame and functioning as a ceiling for the brooding chamber, a substantially pyramidal canopy supported by said frame above and spaced apart from said ceiling panel, there being an opening in the'ceiling panel, an air stack extending through the central'portion of the canopy and extending downwardly through the chamber between said canopy and ceiling, the lower end of which stack surrounds the opening in said ceiling, there being air inlet openings in the upper portion `of said air stack, means for inducing and maintaining a draft of air into the upper portion of said stack, from thence into the chamber between the ceiling and canopy and thence downwardly through said stack and the opening in said ceiling, there being an opening into said air stack, which opening communicates with the chamber beneath the canopy, an open-ended housing mounted upon said air stack and extending inwardly thereinto from said opening, a removable support adjustably mounted in the lower portion of said air stack, an electric motor adjustably mounted on said support, an electric fan carried by the vshaft of said motor, which motor and fan are positioned in front of the opening in said air stack and the housing leading inwardly therefrom and a gravity valve arranged for operation within said housing for cutting olf the reverse flow of air through the air stack in the event of failure of the fan to function.

'7. A brooder as set forth in claim 6 and with adjustable means for regulating the opening movement of said valve.

8. In a broeder, a frame, supports for said frame, a panel arranged in theupper portion of said frame' and serving as a ceiling for the n brooding chamber,` a canopy secured to and supported by said frame above said ceiling, there being an opening formed in said ceiling, an air stack having its lower end secured to said oeiling and surrounding the opening therein, the upper portion of which stack extends through the canopy, means for drawing air into the upper portion of the stack into the chamber between the ceiling and canopy, thence downwardly through the lower portion of the stack and the opening in said ceiling, a series of radially disposed channels arranged on the under side of said ceiling, electric heating element insulators carried by the outer portions of said .channels and an air deector secured to the under sides of the inner end portions of said channels.

9. A broeder as set forth in claim 8, with an insulating cell positioned on said ceiling, there being an opening formed in said cell for the aocommodation of the lower end o f the air stack, there being an opening formed in said ceiling within the area of the openingin said cell, a closure for said opening, said closure having a finger hole, a rod removably positioned in said finger hole and a thermometer carried by said rod.

10. In a broeder, a frame, supports therefor, a panel arranged in the upper portion of said frame and functioning as a ceiling for the brooding chamber within the frame, a substantially pyramidal canopy supported by said frame and positioned above said ceiling, there being an opening in said ceiling, an air stack having its lower end secured to said ceiling around the opening therein, said air stack extending through the apex of the canopy, a partition in the upper portion of said air stack, there being air inlet apertures formed in said r`air stack above the partition therein and communicating with the chamber beneath the canopy, there being an opening in one of the walls of the air stack below the partition therein, adjustably mounted removable means for forcing air from the chamber beneath the canopy through the opening in plurality of members that are disposed radially with respect to the opening in said ceiling and a baiiie plate positioned beneath said radially disposed members and the opening in the ceiling, for causing warm air that discharges from the opening in the ceiling to flow in uniform volume radially from the opening in said ceiling in the upperportion of saidpbrooding chamber.

l2. A broeder as set forth in claim 10, with a self-contained bodily removable insulation unit positioned on said ceiling, there being a dead air space formed between said ceiling and said insulation unit and means arranged beneath said ceiling and including a plurality of members that are disposed radially with respect to the opening in said ceiling and a baiTle plate positioned beneath said radially disposed members and the opening in the ceiling, for causing warm air that dischargesfrom the opening inv the oeiling to flow in uniform volume radially from the opening in said ceiling in the upper portion of said brooding chamber.

' 13. A broeder as set forth in claim 10. and with means arranged on the under side of said ceiling for causing the warm` air that discharges through the opening in said ceiling to flow in uniform volume outwardly in all directions beneath the iioor so as to provide a warm air zone throughout the entire upperportion of the brooding chamber beneath saidceiling.

i4. In a broeder, the combination with a frame and supports therefor, of .a panel arranged in the upper'portien of said frame and serving as a ceiling for the brooding chamber, a substantially pyramidal-shaped canopy secured to and'supported by said frame above the ceiling, there being an opening formed in said ceiling, an air stack having its lower endsecured to said ceiling and surrounding the opening therein, the` upper portion of which stack extends through the apex of the canopy, means `for drawing air into the upper portion of the stack, into the upper portion ofthe chamber between the ceiling and canopy, thence downward through the lower portion of the stack and the opening in said ceiling and a self-contained bodily removable insulating structure positioned on top of said ceiling, with-the outer edges of saidstructure projecting into and filling the outer portions of the substantially pyramidal-shaped chamber between the ceiling `and the canopy.

15. In a breeder, the combination as set forth in claim 14 and with a dead air space formed between said ceiling and said insulating struc-v ture.

MILTON O'. ADAMS. 

